Comodo Secured Site

Paypal Verified Seller

Ads by Goooooogle

Bontoc basket plate"giyag" #2

$50.00

Philippines Bontoc Igorot basket plate locally known as "giyag". The giyag is an individually serving plate used for ceremonial occasions. Albert Jenks (1905,123) reported that giyag were made in all the Bontoc villages, but he had difficulty purchasing them due to their ceremonial associations. The Ifugao do not have a corresponding plate for individual servings, but sometimes employ a small hu-up for this purpose.

A plaited food tray, the giyag is used for serving rice
or sweet potatoes. During mealtimes the giyag functions as a common tray
for use by two or more people who reach for the food with their hands.
Each family has several giyag. The fact that this tray is used for
serving food in the manner described may have been the idea behind the
practice called kiyag (giyag) among the central Bontoc. This is
formalized food exchanged between families or kin groups at a marriage.
The food to be exchanged may in fact be conveyed in this type of tray.